National Theatre announce return of Jane Eyre, Queer Theatre and more in 2017 Season updates

Casting news and new productions announced

The National Theatre today announced further updates on their 2017 season. As well as announcing the London transfer of Oslo by J.T. Rogers to the Lyttelton Theatre and the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre, they confirmed further casting details and a season of new productions.

Following a previous run at the National Theatre and a UK tour, Sally Cookson's production of Jane Eyre returns to the National this September from 26 September to 21 October 2017. Described as an innovative reimagining of Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece, it marks a collaboration between the Bristol Old Vic and the National.

Devised by the original company it is directed by Cookson with dramaturgy by Mike Akers, set design by Michael Vale, costume design by Katie Sykes, lighting design by Aideen Malone, movement by Dan Canham, music by Benji Bower and sound design by Dominic Bilkey. The cast will include Hannah Bristow, Matthew Churcher, Nadia Clifford, Ben Cutler, Tim Delap, Alex Heane, Jenny Johns, Melanie Marshall, Evelyn Miller, Paul Mundell, Dami Olukoya, David Ridley, Lynda Rooke, Francesca Tomlinson and Phoebe Vigor.

Queer Theatre will explore LGBT+ stories and social change, in partnership with Pride in London, running from May to July 2017. Marking 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, the NT looks at how theatre has charted the LGBT+ experience through a series of rehearsed readings, exhibitions, talks and screenings.

All The President's Men: Scenes from the US Senate's confirmation hearings 2017 for President Trump's Cabinet will take place on 24 April 2017 at the Vaudeville Theatre, presented by the National Theatre and The Public Theater, New York. This public staged reading is a verbatim insight into the future policies and direction of a Trump Presidency.

"In January, one week before the president's inauguration a fierce fight erupted in the Senate between Republicans and Democrats over the confirmation of the key figures for President Trump's cabinet. In front of four separate Senate committees the nominees were subjected to tough and relentless cross-examination. They were questioned forensically about their ethics, beliefs and political philosophies. Each of them had to fend off accusations ranging from corruption to deceit or racism."

Further casting was also announced for Mosquitoes, Lucy Kirkwood's new play which runs from 18 July to 28 September, with an official opening on 25 July.

"Alice is a scientist. She lives in Geneva. As the Large Hadron particle collider starts up in 2008, she is on the brink of the most exciting work of her life, searching for the Higgs Boson. Jenny is her sister. She lives in Luton. She spends a lot of time Googling. When tragedy throws them together, their family is soon headed for a collision that threatens them all with chaos."

Olivia Williams will join the previously announced Olivia Colman in the production directed by Rufus Norris with design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Paule Constable, music by Adam Cork, sound design by Paul Arditti and video design by Finn Ross and Ian William Galloway.

Full casting and dates for the National's production of Follies were also announced.